Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-01
Misrellarlegus.
What Shall We Grow?

Just now it don't look much az if we
should ever grow anything; for when we
stop to think of it, and try to realize that
it is April. it is quite impossible to do so.
Not speck of bare ground to be seen
anywhere. not ever an old dead golden
rod stalk above the snow-not the faintest
glimpse of spring anywhere. Deep snow
and solid ice over everything. But then
we have no idea this is always to last, and
Notwithstanding it is so cold now, spring
may come with rush when it gets ready;
and we as farmers must be ready for it.
Now what are the plans for the season?
! In the first place we must get out of the
old-time ruts. and adopt some new no.
tons-provided always they are an i'm
provement. There are some new ideas
that are not practical, although they may
haveia show of originality and progress
about them; these are to BIZ avoided.
B ut if we are deep down in the mire OF
old fogyism, by all means brothers let us
lift ourselves up out of it. The good.
old-fashioned ways and methods that are
always in order may be easily distin-
gulshed from the catch-penny affairs.
| + here is one sensible. old fashioned idea
that we still pin our faith to, and that is
if you are going to grow any kind of a
crop and are making plans to have big
yield, you can't afford to leave barn yard
m anure out of the business. This is as
true as preaching, and good deal nearer
the truth than much which passes for
preaching. Nothing yet has been found
to take the place OF animal dung as a
co nplete and perfect fertilizer. Your
chemists may compound, and stir up, and
advertise all the mixtures they please for
this or that crop, telling you that analysis
shows it is just exactly what your potatoes
or turnips or corn needs-but don't you
forget this one thing, that those crops need
just as much of the best farm yard dress
ing as you can afford to put on the land
where they are to grow; and you 60 and
ask your chemist the question and see if
he don't tell you so. There is only one
way to keep up the farm and that is by
manure-not your patented stuff that
comes in little sacks and is dealt out by
the spoonful-but genuine. perfect, COM
plete, stable manure, and the only way to
get this is to keep stock, cows, sheep,
hogs. You can't grow anything without
manure.
Next, we must give more attention to
working, fixing and pulverizing the sort
for crop, no matter what that crop is to
be. Generally, land is not half prepared.
We pillow it once and harrow it
twice, and then try to make our
selves believe that it is ready for
crop; whereas, if any field intended
for grain, or hoed crops especially. was
once plowed, then cross plowed with a
light pillow and after this narrowed at least
four times over, then rolled to crush the
lumpy surface-tlth, and again narrowed
with pulverizing harrow-the improved
preparation would doubtless result in an
increased yield that would more than pay
for all the extra expense of fitting the
land. If in light, friable condition, no
soil can be injured by the freest use of
plow. harrow and pulverzer.
With these preparations for the crops,
what shall we grow this season. This
will depend upon your nearness or remote
ness to market; upon whether you have a
dairy or fruit farm, and many similar
conditions. And it is because we want
you to study these conditions well this
spring that we bring this subject to your
attention thus early. Just at this point is
where you may want to get out of the old
ruts. You may want to change somewhat
the crops of the farm. You may want to
grow some onions or cabbages, peas or
straw berries, possibly other garden truck
for the better market near your farm than
there used to be some years ago. You
want TO take advantage of these changed
conditions this very spring. But suppose
you have a dairy farm or are growing up
half dozen steers. Then do not eglect
the good. old substantial Indian corn crop.
1t will pay you to grow it. Grow also q
patch Of fodder corn for August feeding
when the pastures are short. Then there
is the mixed grain-wheat, oats, barley
so much esteemed now by the best feeders
for milk, as superior provender for dairy
cows. This mixed grain ground together
makes one of the very best milk rations
ever fed Put in some roots-say a halt
acre of turnps or mangold beets. If you
keep lots of pigs-and if you have a dairy
farm you should have pig pen full-you
will find turnips or beets, especially the
latter, a splendid crop to grow. Sweet
corn is leading hoed crop in many parts
of Maine, and it is crop that brings
ready cash. IT you are near factory you
may want to grow few acres. and we
know of many farmers who haul the corn
as many as ten, and in some instances